Marathi Wikimedians User Group/annual reports/2023

Introduction

The Marathi Wikimedians User Group has organized many activities. The members mainly concentrate on creating awareness and working together on projects for Marathi Wikipedia. Their efforts help to ensure that more people can access and contribute to information about Marathi culture and topics.

Some key user group activities

Marathi Wikipedia Women's editathon 2024

Conducted Women's Editathon on World women’s day for bridging the gender gap on Marathi Wikipedia. The event page is here

On International Women’s Day, we hosted a Women's Editathon aimed at addressing the gender gap on Marathi Wikipedia. The Marathi Wikimedians user group initiated this initiative to combat gender imbalance, organizing a week-long event from March 7 to March 17, 2024, in collaboration with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University Sambhaji Nagar, Tarabai Shinde Women’s Study Center, Maharashtra State Encyclopedia Creation Board, Punyashlok Ahillyadevi Holkar Solapur University, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University and Shivaji University Kolhapur. During this event, participants created articles focused on women's business, sociology, politics, fashion, jewelry, education, and entrepreneurship.

1. Encourage women to contribute to Marathi Wikipedia
2. Provide training on how to use the platform
3. Facilitate the creation of new articles
4. Expand the community of Marathi Wikipedia editors

Marathi Wikipedia with Art+Feminism

The Marathi Wikimedians User Group hosted an editathon in collaboration with ART + Feminism to enrich content on Marathi Wikipedia. The event saw an enthusiastic response from editors, resulting in the creation of over 104 articles, highlighting the community's commitment to enhancing representation and diversity in digital knowledge.

The dashboard for the event is here.

1. Number of Articles Created - 104
2. Numbers of Articles Edits - 205
3. Total Edits - 1.05K
4. Number of Editors - 101
5. Bytes Added - 862K
6. Article Views - 19.7K
7. Commons Upload- 39

Participation in All India Marathi Literature Conference 2024

The Marathi Language Literature Board extended an invitation to the Marathi Wikimedians User Group to participate in the "Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan 2024," held in Amalner from February 2nd to 4th. This participation significantly raised awareness about Marathi Wikipedia within the literary community, fostering interest and encouraging collaboration. As a result, we anticipate greater engagement from writers and literary enthusiasts in the coming months, which could lead to a richer repository of Marathi literary content online. This initiative not only enhances the visibility of Marathi literature but also strengthens the ties between digital platforms and traditional literary circles.

Participation in Global Marathi Conference 2024

The Government of Maharashtra organized an Global Marathi Conference 2024 aimed at connecting with global Marathi citizens and invited the Marathi Wikimedians User Group to play an active role in promoting the Marathi language worldwide. Participation in the conference, held from January 27th to 29th, 2024, significantly raised awareness about Marathi Wikipedia among the global Marathi-speaking community. This engagement is expected to boost participation from Marathi speakers around the world, enriching the content and diversity of the platform. Additionally, fostering these connections can lead to collaborative efforts that enhance the representation of Marathi culture and literature online. By engaging with international audiences, we hope to inspire a new generation of contributors who are passionate about preserving and promoting the Marathi language.

Conducted Marathi Wikipedia Training Workshop at Shivaji University, Kolhapur

A Marathi Wikipedia Training Workshop was organized at Shivaji University, Kolhapur, to promote awareness of contributing content to Marathi Wikipedia and to familiarize students with its technical aspects. Organized in collaboration with the Marathi Language Advisory Board of the Government of Maharashtra, the one-day workshop attracted over a hundred faculty members and students from various disciplines.

Participants engaged in hands-on activities that not only enhanced their understanding of Wikipedia but also sparked discussions about the importance of documenting regional knowledge. This initiative aims to empower students to contribute meaningfully to the Marathi Wikipedia, fostering a sense of ownership over their cultural heritage. By equipping them with the necessary skills, we hope to cultivate a vibrant community of contributors dedicated to enriching Marathi content on Marathi Wikipedia.

Miscellaneous Activities

To raise awareness about Wikipedia encouraging the use, contribution, enhancement, and correction of content the Marathi Wikimedia User Group organizes regular awareness camps and meetups. Volunteers from the user group actively participate in these campaigns, providing mentorship and guidance on a consistent basis. These initiatives not only educate participants about the importance of collaborative knowledge-sharing but also enhance a sense of community among contributors. By empowering individuals to engage with Wikipedia, we aim to build a richer repository of Marathi content that reflects diverse perspectives and experiences.